Mindy L. Klasky
Mindy L. Klasky was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Dallas, Atlanta, and Minneapolis.
After beginning college as a computer
science major, she graduated with a degree in English. She attended law school and practiced trademark and copyright
law with a major Washington firm for 6 years. Then, she returned to school and earned a degree in library
science. She now manages the library reference department in a large Washington law firm.
She is an active member of the SFWA (currently serving as
co-chair of the Contracts Committee), as well as many legal bar organizations and library societies.
Mindy L. Klasky WebsiteISFDB Bibliography

Perhaps foremost, this novel is the introductory foray into fantasy for Mindy L. Klasky. Furthermore, in a
time when it is common for authors to explode on the scene with massive, multi-volume epics that force the
reader to continue to purchase novels over several years to discover the outcome of the story,
The Glasswrights' Apprentice is an entirely self-contained story.

The focus of Klasky's tale is Rani, the 13-year-old apprentice of the title. A typical errand to deliver
lunch to one of her instructors leads Rani to witness the assassination of a popular prince. Rani's subsequent
flight from the royal guards provides her with a firsthand view of the six castes which make up her culture.

At the lowest level, Rani is forced to associate with the Touched, a class of street urchins who are the beggars
and outcasts of society. No matter what her actual association with the Touched is, Rani cannot leave behind
the bogeyman tales of them with which she was raised.

Prior to entering the Glasswrights' Guild, Rani was a member of a merchant family, and she has the opportunity to
rejoin that caste, at least temporarily, during her attempts to find the rest of her family.

Rani next finds herself under the protection of a member of the warrior class. As an outsider to this group, Rani views
the soldiers with almost as much suspicion as she did the Touched. Finally, posing as a member of the pilgrim
caste, Rani manages to attach herself to the highest caste of all as a member of the royal family.

Although The Glasswrights' Apprentice serves as a tour of Klasky's culture, that tour is not the
raison d'etre of the novel. Klasky includes a Byzantine plot which is only set in motion with the murder of
Prince Tuvashanoran. During Rani's attempts to secure her safety and find her family, she discovers that the Prince's
death is tied to a cabal which is intent on eradicating the caste system which permeates every aspect of society.

Many of Klasky's portrayals border on satire, although there is no sense that satire was intended. Prince
Tuvashanoran is the perfect prince, whose acts of charity can change the weather. The leader of the resistance is
one of the most handsome men in the kingdom. In many cases, Klasky appears to be perpetuating the standard
clichés of fantasy literature; however, she quickly manages to move beyond the clichés and bend them so they become an integral part of her world.

While The Glasswrights' Apprentice is a complete story, Klasky has provided the basis for several further
tales set in this world. There would be plenty of opportunity for her to explore aspects of the society which she only touches on here, or to develop the changes which
she seems ready to instigate should she choose to write any sequels. Klasky's future novels, whether
continuations of the world of The Glasswrights' Apprentice or completely new and innovative worlds, will be worth watching for.

Steven H Silver in one of SF Site's Contributing Editors as well as one
of the founders and judges for the Sidewise Award for Alternate History.
He is Vice-Chairman of Windycon 28 and Programming Chairman for Chicon
2000. In addition to maintaining several bibliographies and the Harry
Turtledove website, Steven is trying to get his short stories published
and has recently finished his first novel. Steven is a Hugo Nominee for
Best Fan Writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, daughter and 4000
books.